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Saturday, May 17, 2003

Mary Shaw and Roy Weil will be in their element at today's Venture Outdoors.

The free annual festival, held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the North Shore of the Allegheny River at PNC Park, aims to promote education and active appreciation of the region's natural assets and amenities. It will be populated by several other outdoors experts, including the keynote speaker, the Antarctic explorer from Morningside, Will Cross. Others will speak on topics ranging from adventure racing to saving mountain lions.

But the point is not to talk about the outdoors but to experience it. Attendees can try their hands, feet and other body parts at kayaking, climbing, biking, hiking, canoeing, rowing, dragon boat paddling, fishing, disc golf and other activities.

In addition to food vendors and musical groups, nearly 80 outdoors groups and exhibitors will give demonstrations and information. Among them are the Western Pennsylvania Field Institute, which organizes the event with Sustainable Pittsburgh, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Venturing BSA (Boy Scouts of America), plus several sponsors.

The rain-or-shine event is part of Great Outdoors Week, which continues through tomorrow.

For more information (and a printable voucher for free parking), go to the Web site www.wpfi.org.